Asparagus: Perennial favorite can be grown in Valley

May 16, 2013

Written by

Jeff Ishee

Asparagus is a perennial crop that grows well east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. That’s not to say, however, it can’t be grown here in the Shenandoah Valley. Many of my friends grow asparagus, and I have grown it commercially for local farmers markets. It all depends on the soil you have to work with. A sandy loam is ideal, but as long as you have good drainage, it will also grow on heavier soil. When selecting a location for this crop that will last 15-20 years, keep in mind that asparagus does not like “wet feet.” If your proposed asparagus patch is an area prone to puddle for long periods, keep looking for a site with better drainage.

Choosing the best variety choice is important. Traditionally, asparagus is dioecious. This means that the male and female reproductive organs are on separate plants (of the same species) rather than different parts of the same plant. The female flowers produce seeds that fall to the ground. This leads to a potential problem with seedlings popping up all over the garden. With dioecious varieties, the female plants also have to use more energy to produce tall, lush ferns. This typically results in 50 percent less spear yield than a male plant, which does not have to produce seed.

Most gardeners have transitioned to “all-male” hybrids, which easily produce twice the yield of the old open-pollinated varieties. Male hybrid varieties currently available include Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight and Jersey Supreme. The only type I have experience with is Jersey Giant, which is the most common in our region.

Let’s take a closer look at each all-male variety:

• Jersey Giant: Huge green spears exhibit purple highlights. This hybrid produces heavier yields than female or male and female types and is tolerant to fusarium root rot and crown rot. It is also resistant to rust. The plant will reach 4 to 5 feet tall in fertile soil.

• Jersey Supreme: Produces the first asparagus of the season. You can generally depend on Supreme to furnish a bumper crop of uniform, mild, tender spears. The hardy 4-foot plants thrive in light to medium